Women in the Indian Working Force: Trends and Differentials

During the three decades and a half since professor D.R. Gadgil had examined length varied evidences relating to the participation by Indian women in economic activities, or women in India's working force, based on 1961 Census data, the level of participation in the working force by Indian women has continued to be a vexed issue. Based on the outcome of the recurrent debates on the subject, this paper reviews the extensive evidence that has become available on the subject during the lost several decades. In most discussions relating to helping the Indian women to achieve equality with men, cansiderable emphasis is laid on enabling them to gain independence from their spauses, sons and siblings or parents by providing oppartllnities for participation in income-eaming activities. An improvement in the working conditions and wages and salaries of women workers is also a high priority cancen. The review of the necessary data and evidence is attempted in this paper with a view to obtain a proper perspective on these issues.